Toilet flushing device



June l, 1954 Q H POKORNY 2,679,651

TOILET FLUSHING DEVICE Filed July 26, 1951 g .In o lo e d IIIIII. Il 4 44 INVENTU/Q.

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Patented June l, 1954 UNITED STATES TN'I' GFFICE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in foot operated toilet iiushing devices.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a device which can be applied easily and quickly to a conventional toilet mechanism to convert the saine from hand operation to foot operation.

A further object is to provide a device of this character wherein all operating parts except the foot pedal are encased so as to be protected from unauthorized tampering and so as to be sightly in appearance, while at the same time providing for rapid and convenient access to all parts for repair, adjustment and replacement.

A further Objectis to provide a device of this character having an elongated flexible or linked connector and a guide directing the same in a tortuous path, wherein means are provided to spring-urge said flexible connector for bodily endwise movement from an operative position to f a normal or inoperative position.

Other objects will be apparent from the following specification.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the application of the invention to a conventional toilet flush tank.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional detail view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail view of a part of the device.

Fig. fi is a detail sectional view taken on line fi-i of Fig. l.

Referring to the drawing which illustrates the preferred embodiment of the invention, the 'numeral l designates a conventional toilet flush tank having a front wall IZ and a bottom wall Ui. The ush tank is provided with the usual upright conduit l@ and valve seat I8 associated with the water outlet in the bottom of the flush tank. A valve member v2d, such as a hollow rubber member, is adapted to fit upon the valve seat K3 to span and seal the same. The valve 2D may be carried by the usual rigid stem member 22 projecting upwardly therefrom and passing slidabiy through a guide 24 which may be mounted on any suitable support, such as an arm 26 carried by the tube it intermediate the height of that tube above the valve seat it.

The front wall i2 will be provided with an aperture 28 adjacent its upper end and above 'the normal liquid level therein as is conventional for mounting a hand-operated actuator of the type well known in the art. I employ the aperture ior the vpurpose of mounting my improved device upon the iush tank. My construction includes an L-shaped tubular fitting or elbow 30 having an enlarged ange 32 extending transversely lthereof spaced from a threaded end portion 3&4 which. extends -through the opening 28. The elbow 30 is positioned within the tank and preferably lies in a substantially horizontal plane. If desired, the portion of the elbow adjacent the flange 32 and projecting into the opening 28 may be square or other non-circular shape to facilitate positioning of the lelbow against rotation. n second elbow (it has a flange 38 spaced from one end thereof and adapted to bear against the outer surface of the wall l2. The flange 38 is formed spaced from one end of the elbow, which end portion '49 has a screw-threaded connection with the part 34 of the elbow 30. -I-f desired, gaskets (not shown) or pad :members can be interposed between the inner surfaces of the flanges 32 and 33 `and the surfaces of the wall l2 adjacent thereto to effect a seal and to protect the tant: wall. The elbow 36 will preferably be positioned in a `substantially vertical plane.

A union l2 is connected to the end of the elbow 3B within the tank, said union preferably being provided with a central transverse partition 44 having a small 'central aperture therein. The union serves as means to connect a tube lor conduit 46 to the elbow. This tube or conduit is of a length and is so positioned that it can extend to a point above the valve seat I8, and it is pref'- erably provided with a downturned end portion 48 vertically aligned with the valve seat I8.

The depending outer end of the elbow 36 serves to mount a depending tubular member 50, as by means of a screw-'threaded connection between 4the upper end of that conduit and the elbow.

The lower end of the conduit 50 has a slidable teiescoping fit about the upper end portion of a conduit 52. The conduit 52 has xedly attached thereto a litting '54 including a base plate 56 which may be xedly anchored to the fioor or other horizontal supporting `surface by securing members 53. The tubes 59 and 52 will be positioned in axial alignment.

An elongated flexible `connector 60 of the pivoted link type, such as a bead chain, is connected at one end to the upper end of the valve stem 22. The connector G0 extends from the stem into and through the tubular part 48,138, the union 42, the elbows 313 and 36, and the upright tubular unit 59, 52. rThe opposite end of the connector 60 is secured by suitable means v6i to an elongated rigid stem 64 having a slidable fit within the tube 52. A foot pedal 656 projects transversely from the member 64 through an elongated slot 3 68 in the tube 52. A coil spring 'I6 underlies the plunger 64 and normally urges the same to a position as illustrated in Fig. 2, wherein the pedal 66 is adjacent the upper end of the slot 68.

A coil spring 'I2 is positioned within the tube 46 and encircles the connector 60. One end of the coil spring 12 bears against the ange 44 of the connector 42. The other end of the coil spring bears against an abutment 'i4 secured to the bead chain, as by means of a connector unit 'I6 xed to the bead chain at any desired point. The spring serves normally to urge the connector or bead chain in a direction to permit the valve 26 to seat upon and seal the valve seat I8. An access opening 18 may be formed in the tube 46 adjacent to the part 16, and a similar access opening 60 may be formed in the elbow 30 or at any other desired point. The openings 'I8 and 86 serve to provide access to the bead chain, if that is desired.

The construction of the device permits prefabrication or assembly of the device in units. Thus, the parts 30, 42 and 46 may constitute one unit, the parts 36 and 50 a second unit, and the parts 52, 54, 64 and 66 may constitute a third unit. These parts can be assembled very quickly by screw-threaded connection of the elbows 30 and 36 followed by assembly of the parts 50 and 52. The preferred practice, however, will entail separation of the parts 36 and 50 in order to facilitate connection between the bead chain 66 and the rod 64. For this purpose it is preferred that the tube 52 shall be substantially longer than the tube y5l) so that the tube 50 may slide to encircle the upper portion of the tube 52 and alford access to the upper end of the bar 64. The chain 60 will preferably be threaded through the parts 36, 42, 46 before connection of the elbow 36 therewith and will be passed through the elbow. The flexibility of the chain will accommodate the manipulation of the parts, such as the rotation of the elbow 36, to effect connection with the elbow 30. If desired, the chain 66 may be anchored to the stem 22 before the interconnection of the elbows, but this will not normally be necessary because of the action of the spring 12 positively preventing the chain from being pulled into the tube 46, 48 to an extent rendering it inaccessible. Care preferably will be taken, however, to hold the other end of the chain to prevent it from sliding to a position at which its end is withdrawn into the elbow 36. After the elbows have been connected, the free end of the chain is connected at 62 to the guide bar 64. Thereupon, the tube 56 can be slid upwardly into engagement with the elbow 36 and can be screw-threaded for connection with that elbow.

It will be observed that the elbow 36, the tubes 50 and 52, the foot plate 56 and the pedal 66 are the only parts which are exposed. These parts can be plated and shaped to present an attractive appearance. The enclosure of the operating parts prevents unauthorized access or tampering. At the same time the formation of the tubular guide from a number of parts facilitates access to the bead chain or other connector at any point found desirable.

The parts which constitute the tubular guide will preferably be provided with smooth interior surfaces to avoid any obstruction to free endwise movement of the bead chain or other connector. The restriction defined by the flange 44 of the union does not constitute an interference with the connector by reason of the fact that the portion of the connector adjacent thereto iS encircled by the coil spring 12 which serves to center the connector and also to apply an endwise pull thereon. This endwise pull upon the bead chain has in itself a centering function as will be obvious. In other words, the pull of the spring 'I2 is resisted by the weight of the bar 64 and the limit imposed upon the movement of the foot pedal by the slot 68 through which the foot pedal extends, so that the bead chain Will normally be extended to a taut condition by the spring 12. It will be apparent that as long as the bead chain is taut and is held centered relative to the restriction 44, said restriction will not interfere with movement of the chain. As illustrated, the

" restriction 44 may have a frusto-conical surface opposite the surface engaged by the spring so that a further guiding action will be provided and additional insurance against hooking or locking of the conector with the restriction Will be provided.

The spring i2, being located in the part 46 of the tubular guide, acts upon the connector adjacent the end which is connected to the valve 20, and, cons equently, only a small part of the connector, that is, the part of the connector Within the guide 46, 4B and at the right of the part 16 shown in Fig. 4, is pushed upon. However, the weight of the valve member and its stem pulling by gravity upon this end of the chain holds it taut.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated, it will be understood that changes may be made in the construction within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

l. The combination with a flush tank having an apertured side wall and a bottom wall apertured to define a valve seat for a normally seated valve member; of a rigid tubular guide solely carried by and extending through said side wall aperture, said tubular guide being bent and including one end portion terminating above said valve seat and an opposite end portion extending downi Wardly externally of said tank, a foot pedal unit including an upright tube supported independently of and having a telescopic intertting relation with the lower end of said last named tube end portion and a foot pedal shiftable in said upright tube, and a flexible connector extending through said guide and tube and operatively connected to said foot pedal and to said valve at its opposite ends.

2. The combination with a ilush tank having an apertured side wall and a bottom Wall apertured to denne a Valve seat for a normally seated valve member; of a rigid tubular guide solely carried by and extending through said side Wall aperture, said tubular guide being bent and including one end portion terminating above said valve seat and an opposite end portion extending downwardly externally of said tank, means supporting said second tube independently of said guide, a second tube telescopically interiitting with said guide, a foot pedal shiftably associated with said second tube, and a iexiblc connector extending through said guide and operatively connected to said foot pedal and to said valve at its opposite ends, said connector including a rigid guide portion at one end slidable in said second tube and connected to said pedal.

3. The combination with a flush tank having an apertured side wall and a bottom wall apertured to define a valve seat for a normally seated valve member, of a rigid tubular guide solely carried by and extending through said side wall aperture, said tubular guide being bent and including one end portion terminating above said valve seat and an opposite end portion extending downwardly externally of said tank, means supporting said second tube independently of said guide, a second tube telescopically interfltting with said guide, a foot pedal shiftably associated with said second tube, and a flexible connector extending through said guide and operatively connected to said foot pedal and to said valve at its opposite ends, said connector including a bar at one end slidable endwise in said second tube, said second tube having a longitudinal slot in its last named end portion, said pedal being carried by said bar and slidable in said slot.

4. The combination dened in claim 1, and

spring means normally urging said connector andV pedal to valve-seating position.

5. The combination with a ush tank having an apertured side wall and a bottom wall apertured to define a valve seat for a normally seated Valve member, of a rigid tubular guide solely carried by and extending through said side wall aperture, said tubular guide being bent and including one end portion terminating above said valve seat and an opposite end portion extending downwardly externally of said tank, means independent of said guide for supporting said second tube, a second tube telescopically intertting with said guide, a foot pedal shiftably associated with said second tube, a exible connector extending through said guide and operatively connected to said foot pedal and to said valve at its opconnector and bearing at its ends against said restriction and said enlargement to urge said connector endwise toward valve-closing position.

7. The combination defined in claim 1, wherein said tubular guide constitutes a plurality of interconnected parts, two of said parts having screw-threaded interconnecting portions extending through said wall aperture and iianges bearing against opposite surfaces of said wall to form the sole means supporting said guide.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 613,616 Adee Nov. 1, 1898 752,321 Bacon Feb. 16, 1904 1,864,827 Jenkins et al. June 28, 1932 2,145,601 Hopper Jan. 31, 1939 2,467,019 Farson Apr. 12, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 501,205 Great Britain Feb. 23, 1939 

